by admin on October 17, 2008
Pin the Hat on the Witch Game - October 17, 2008
Game: Pin the Hat on the Witch
Supplies:
Poster board
Markers
Construction paper
Double-stick tape
Scarf or sleep mask
Directions:
Directions:
Using a large piece of poster board, draw a witch without a hat. If you are artistically challenged, print out a piece of simple clip art and copy it. Cut out hats out of different color construction paper. You can them or write the children’s names on them if you have duplicate colors. Playing is just like Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Place double stick tape on the back of the hats. Hang the witch on the wall. Cover the children’s eyes and spin them 3 times. Closest hat placement wins!
Pin the Hat on the Witch Game - October 17, 2008
by admin on October 17, 2008
Boo Bag Craft - October 17, 2008
Craft: Boo Bags
Supplies:
White paper lunch bags
Extra large Googly Eyes
Single hole punch
Long chenille stick (or 2 twisted together)
Black marker
Directions:
Instead of buying expensive, fancy Halloween goody bags, have the children make their own Boo Bags. Open a white paper lunch bag. Roll down the top twice to create a cuff. Flatten the bag and glue extra large Googly Eyes to one side of the bag. Draw a circular mouth underneath with the words BOO! in a speech bubble. Hole punch each side of the cuff and fasten chenille stick, creating a handle. Fill with your favorite goodies! Note: For extra pizzazz, cut arms out of index cards or cardstock and glue them to the sides.
by admin on October 7, 2008
Eliana's Spookover Invitation
Friends:
My 8 year old daughter, Eliana is having a “Spookover,” a spooky sleepover. The Spookover (which was an annual tradition for my 18 year old when she was younger) will feature “Frightful Food, Ghoulish Games, Creepy Crafts, and Spooky Stories.”
We made the invitation entirely out of construction paper, Elmer’s Glue, and a paper towel (for the ghost). I created a template from card stock for the haunted house. The rest of the invitation is a matter of cutting and cutting and cutting. The windows and the front door open up to the text of the invitation. This “BOO-tiful” handmade invitation is sure to win some attention!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
by admin on September 19, 2008
Fancy Nancy - Paper Doll Chains
Fancy Nancy written by Jane O’Connor and Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser is a book about precocious little Nancy who loves everything “fancy.” It’s become a phenomenon, endearing little girls across the nation. I thought the classic paper doll chain would be a perfect accompaniment for Fancy Nancy.
Materials:
Large piece of construction paper cut in half vertically (4.5″ X 12″)
Scissors
Crayons or markers
Directions:
Cut a large sheet of construction paper in half, vertically (4.5″ X 12″). Fold it into 4 parts, accordion style.
Paper Doll Chain - The Accordion Fold
Next draw the pattern. The pattern must extend to each side of the folds.
Fancy Nancy -Paper Doll Pattern
Then cut the pattern out.
Fancy Nancy - Cutting the Paper Doll Chain
Finally, color the dolls. We used the illustrations in Fancy Nancy for inspiration.
Fancy Nancy - Eliana Coloring the Paper Doll Chain
This simple craft is so much fun. Get crazy and creative!
Fancy Nancy - Beautiful Paper Doll Chain!
Look how cute the dolls are on Eliana’s bulletin board.
Fancy Nancy - Paper Doll Chain on Eliana's Bulletin Board
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
by admin on September 19, 2008
Leaf Man - Gather leaves
Friends:
Leaf Man is a fantastic book by Lois Ehlert where the leaves transform into people, birds, fish, vegetables, trees, and more. It’s a great book for the Fall but works year round because trees are everywhere!
Materials:
Lots of different leaves in varying colors
Sheet of white paper
Pictures of animals (if you wish)
Directions:
First, gather leaves. Gather a variety in different colors. We try to pick leaves that have already fallen to the ground. Next, decide what type of animal you want to make and begin assembling the leaves on a white sheet of paper. This may take some experimentation. Try not to alter the shapes of the leaves – work with what you have. Creating leaf illustrations is like assembling a puzzle. Disassemble the puzzle and start again! Here are some examples. This is a mouse by Eliana.
Leaf Mouse by Eliana
This is a peacock created by moi!
Leaf Peacock by Dianne
This next one was a mother-daughter effort. Can you guess what it is?
Leaf Gator Snapping a Fish
Use your imagination to create something whimsical, something wonderful!
Leaf Man Book & Leaf Peacock
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
by admin on September 18, 2008
Library Mouse Craft and Book
Library Mouse – Tissue Paper Roll Mouse & Book
Library Mouse written and illustrated by Daniel Kirk is a fantastic book about reading and writing. Sam, a mouse who lives in the library, loves to read. He is so inspired by books that he decides to write one and sneak it into the library collection. Soon, all the children are buzzing about Sam, the new author. They ask to meet him and in a clever twist, Sam surprises them all and inspires many more authors. In this craft, you will make the tissue paper roll mouse and a small book.
Materials:
Tissue paper roll
Construction Paper
Chenille Sticks (pink and white)
Glue
Stapler
Directions
To make the mouse, from construction paper, cut out a tail, two ears, and two eyes. Pinch one end of the tissue paper roll shut, inserting the tail in the middle. Staple it shut. Wrap the tail around a pen or pencil to create a curl. Pinch the opposite end of the tissue paper roll in the opposite direction (it will look like a triangle). Glue ears at the top and an eye on each side. Cut a small piece of pink chenille and ball it up into a nose, leaving an end sticking out to insert into the tissue paper roll. Cut two small white pieces of chenille stick and fold it in half, creating whiskers. Glue on each side of the nose. Your mouse is ready and will look like this.
Library Mouse Up Close
To create the book, cut four equal sizes of white construction paper (the inside of the book). Create a front and back cover in a different color. Staple the book on one side. Voila! Now you have Sam the Mouse and a book of your own to write in! Happy Tales to You!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
by admin on September 17, 2008
Wild About Books Paper Plate Snakes
Wild About Books Paper Plate Snakes
“In a flash every beast in the zoo was stampeding
To learn all about this new something called reading.
Forsaking their niches, their nests, and their nooks,
They went wild, simply wild, about wonderful books…”
And so begins one of my favorite new classics written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Marc Brown. The story is clever and inspiring while the colorful illustrations slither, stomp, and stampede across the page. To go with this modern classic, I have chosen one of my favorite classic crafts – the simple, slithery paper plate snake.
Materials:
Paper plate
Crayons or markers
Scissors
Directions
Color both sides of the paper plate in any design you wish. Starting on the outer edge, cut the paper plate into a spiral about an inch wide. When you reach the inside, stop so that you have enough paper plate left to form the snake’s head. Make two eyes with a marker. Ssssssssss. Now you and your snake can curl up with a good book.
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
by admin on September 17, 2008
Where the Wild Things Are Paper Bag Puppet
Where the Wild Things Are – Wild Things Paper Bag Puppets
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak was one of Soleil’s favorite books as a child. I read it over and over and over again. And then she read it over and over and over again until Mommy said, “Be still!”
Materials:
Paper lunch bags
Construction paper
Scissors
Glue
Directions:
This is such a fun craft because I basically let the children cut out their own wild thing features – horns, nose, lips, teeth, hair, eyes, ears, arms, and legs. Simply glue them on to the paper bag. Anything goes! Eliana had a ball with this book craft and wouldn’t let me look until her wild thing was done.
“And when he came to the place where the wild things are they roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws…”
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
by admin on February 14, 2008
Friends:
Happy Valentine’s Day. I made this simple Valentine carrying box for Eliana, my seven year old. She is taking it to school, stuffed with Valentine treats for her classmates. She can also bring home the Valentine treats she receives. It’s very easy. It took less than ten minutes.
Materials:
Tissue Box with large opening
2 chenille sticks
Hole punch
Stickers or cut outs
Other decorations
Instructions:
Punch a hole on either side of the tissue box opening. Create a handle from the two chenille sticks, twisting them together. Insert each end of the chenille stick into the holes. Secure the handle by twisting the ends of the chenille a large knot on either side (the knots will be inside the box). Decorate the box with stickers or cut outs. I cut apart a Valentine paper bag for my decorations. Now you’re ready to fill your Valentine box with lovely goodies! Happy Hearts Day!
Warmly, Dianne
by admin on February 9, 2008
Friends:
Spring is around the corner! We can look forward to blossoms and butterflies. This is one of my favorite crafts to do with kids. It’s the classic coffee filter butterfly. It’s simple and fun. I think I learned this from Girl Scouts or summer camp when I was a child.
Materials needed for two butterflies:
1 paper plate
2 coffee filters
2 clothes or doll pins
water-based markers
spray bottle of water
adhesive magnets (optional)
googly eyes (optional)
Step 1 – Flatten a coffee filter on top of a paper plate and create a design using water-based colored markers.
Step 2 – Using a spray bottle, spray the entire coffee filter with water, being sure to spray evenly and thoroughly. It will allow the ink to spread, creating a “tie-die” effect.
Step 3 – Flatten another coffee filter. Using the second coffee filter as a blotter, press it firmly on top of the colored coffee filter. The excess moisture and color will be absorbed into the second coffee filter.
Step 4 and the final step – Gather the coffee filters in the middle creating accordion pleats to create “wings.” Pinching the pleats tightly, open a clothes pin and wedge the wings as far back as possible. If you are working with small children, you may want to help with this step. The clothes pin can unexpectedly snap shut if not held firmly. Feel free to color the “body” of the butterfly and glue on googly eyes. You can also add an adhesive magnet to the bottom to make a “butterfly fridge magnet.”
May your wings take you to new heights!
Warmly, Dianne
